Column: State of Appearances

By Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Last week, President Biden delivered a lackluster State of the Union address that was divisive, touted empty policies, and swept the chaos at our southern border under the rug.

I am not surprised that the President failed to mention the decline of our nation during his State of the Union Address, but I am disappointed. I am disappointed that the President prized appearances, the appearance of a strong nation, over the harsh realities that many Americans face.

The President boasted about the economy. Yet, under Bidenomics, job growth has been stagnant, real wages are down by over 2 percent, and prices have risen 17.9 percent. Compared to three years ago, Americans spend $1,019 more on necessary goods and services per month. This is the direct result of Biden’s failed economic agenda.

In Iowa’s First Congressional District, we have been hit hard by the skyrocketing inflation rates. We feel the impact at the pump and at the grocery store when we, at times, have to put items back on the shelf. We know all too well the impact of the fentanyl and opioid crisis that can be directly linked to the drug cartels and the illegal immigration crisis at our border. We rely on the energy industry, which offers good-paying jobs in our communities, but the President is waging an all-out war on the very industry that sustains our community.

Fortunately, House Republicans are acutely aware of what is going on in our communities. We are introducing and passing legislation to fortify our border and keep our communities safe. This Congress, we introduced and passed H.R. 2, a historic border and immigration bill that strengthens border security and immigration laws, deters illegals from taking advantage of our immigration system, and addresses the humanitarian crisis that the Biden administration created.

This week, we passed the Laken Riley Act, legislation introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-GA). This legislation honors the life and memory of Laken Riley and other victims of the Biden administration’s open borders policies and enforces immigration laws. The legislation also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged with theft in the United States.

As your representative, I will continue to acknowledge the realities of the state of our nation and correct the record on Biden’s failed policies. I will also continue to work for our communities, especially the rural communities, which, more often than not, feel the brunt of the President’s policies.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks currently represents Iowa’s First District in the United States House of Representatives.